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07/16/2011

Living Waters Spa in Desert Hot Springs

Well folks, you know I love Desert Hot Springs 'cause that's where my grandparents lived, but you might be wonderin' what kinda heatstroke might cause a fella to be seeking out a hot spring in the desert in July. Short answer is: company. We had some friends visitin' and they wanted to spend some spa time. I had a few misgivings about it, got overruled, and it turned out to be one happy turn of events.

The Kismet Lodge, where my grandma worked at one point - she worked at darned near every spa in Desert Hot Springs back in the '50s - is now called the Living Waters Spa, and it's about two blocks down the street from Cabot's. Its current owners are Jeff and Judy Bowman who have an extensive background in massage therapy and are members of the Desert Hot Springs Historical Society on top of that.

Let me tell you, we haven't had such a pleasant afternoon in quite a while. The spa is pretty much the same as it was back in grandma's day; just clean and simple. We were told that the massages are surreal; next time around we'll have to check that out.

The other thing that's different about the old Kismet is that it's now "clothing optional" which really means that wearing clothes (or binoculars) is NOT an option. Besides no clothes there are no kids, no cell phones, no blaring TVs - a little ambient "grasshopper in the bamboo"-style background music, and the wind in the palm trees. The water is straight from the aquifer, no chlorine.

Jeff and Judy have some great deals for summer too, the emphasis being specials for couples. So if you're up for some clothing-optional spa time, Living Waters is the place.

I grew up spending many weekends at Kismet Lodge in the 50's and 60's. My parents were close friends with Rose and Eddie Deovelet and also Roses parents, the Georges, who I knew only as mama and papa George. My parents bought a place in Idyllwild and quit going to the Kismet in the early 70's but stayed in touch with the Deovelets.

My childhood memories are shaken by the realization that I cannot bring my son to the Kismet now that it is a sans clothing lodge. I guess I will have to wait until he turns 18. My mother is in the top and 2nd photo sitting by the edge of the pool and on the steps. She has a copy of the photo the postcard was made from. I had totally forgotten about it til I saw your post